Simple-but-effective metal-oriented pedal?

[zorrow]

Hey there, guys!

Some contextual info first:

As some of you already know, I'm helping a Cuban metal band to grow bigger. This is a personal project I want to accomplish since ever, and this time I'm sure I got the right guys there -solid band, competent musicians and nice, like-able, honest and hardworking people.

However, many of you do know that the metal genre is marginal in Cuba and that the country itself is crushed by a totalitarian dictatorship, whose policy of isolation from the rest of the world includes limited access to many technologies.

With all that in mind, I want to purchase a good metal-oriented pedal as a gift for their rhythm guitarist. They need the classic "chug-chug" sound, with a tight bottom-end, thick mids and shrilling highs. One-trick pony will perfectly do.

Funny enough, in spite of the fact I play metal myself, I'm not very knowledgeable on metal-oriented pedals.

Do yo have any suggestions for me?

TIA!

PS: There's a friend of mine who's travelling to Cuba in one month or so. I want to send the pedal to the guys with her.

[Bennyboy-UK]

Boss MT-2 Metalzone, has powerful EQ, praps that might be one to consider, lots about too.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Fk the metal zone - too screechy. I tried em all & the best are EH Metal Muff but my alltime fave is MXR Fullbore. Joyo do a fabulous Metal Muff clone called Joyo J-17 Extreme Metal. It's a direct copy of a Metal Muff & is great. Should come in around $40 (US) shipped if you look around. Sturdy as fk too & you won't regret buying one (I bought one & have owned a EHMM & it's no different)...

[zorrow]

Fk the metal zone - too screechy. I tried em all & the best are EH Metal Muff but my alltime fave is MXR Fullbore. Joyo do a fabulous Metal Muff clone called Joyo J-17 Extreme Metal. It's a direct copy of a Metal Muff & is great. Should come in around $40 (US) shipped if you look around. Sturdy as fk too & you won't regret buying one (I bought one & have owned a EHMM & it's no different)...

I've tried a Metalzone myself and I didn't like it. Really too screechy. As of the Jojo J-17 Extreme Metal, is it the JF-17? I found a review in Amazon and it doesn't look very promising... unless the guy missed something (this is the review: http://www.amazon.co...l/dp/B006XXT8EW)

Edited to add: I do like however what I hear here:

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Whoops! Yeah, it's the JF-17 (my bad). Yet the reviewer gives it 4 stars out of 5!!! I suppose it's down to personal preference (even the Metal Muff needs a bit of tweaking to get it to sound right). My preference is always to play it thru a clean channel on a Marshall (I have a JCM 900) & use the pedal for your distortion. I really rate the Joyo & I heard no difference from between that & the Metal Muff. That said, I wouldn't change my MXR Fullbore for anything...

[Steve Haynie]

The Metal Muff is one of my keepers (that came from another HFC'er). Even though my amps can produce a great metal sound, that pedal is dead on for metal crunch. There is also the Micro Metal Muff for a little less money.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

That demo is prob played thru a tranny amp too. Will sound fab thru a valve amp on clean channel...

[geoff_hartwell]

The Line 6 Tone Core Uber Metal is cheap ( about $65USD used) sounds killer and has a very usable two position noise gate.

I don't believe it uses 9v batteries, but definitely takes standard boss adapter (onespot, etc).

Good Luck!

GH

[FrankieIII]

The old standby is great - Boss Heavy Metal HM-2.

[anotherfreak]

I like the Metal Muff TB as well, not that I play like that much can be had used for @$60 and has some great range of Muffy-ness

[Bennyboy-UK]

Everyone seems to love the muff. Looks like I'm missing out!

[Bennyboy-UK]

Just watched the first vid I could find. Looks very impressive!

*sounds!

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

I had a MM for a year til I tried the MXR Fullbore. Loved the MM but the MXR is just sooo good for my sound. Does what the MM does but in a different way (but with no booster). It does have a bass/treble sweep (too much for me tbh) & a built in Noise Gate (good but I don't need it).

Just watched the first vid I could find. Looks very impressive!

*sounds!

The Joyo JF-17 is a good cheap rip of the MM. I think I paid £28 delivered for mine...

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

But, if you got the money, get the MM

Best price & well worth it if you got the cash http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electro-Harmonix-Metal-Muff-Effects-Pedal-NEW-/271025529310?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3f1a6161de

[Submariner85]

I just ordered one of those JOYO's to try out. Can't wait til Monday.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

My personal recommendation for the Joyo/MM is:

Level = 12 o' clock (or more)

Bass = 2 to 3 o clock

Middle (scooped) = 9 to 10 o clock

Treble = 1 to 2 o clock

Gain = 2 to 3 o clock...

Top Boost (if you use it) doesn't have to go above 11 o clock IMO.

Realy is an awesome pedal & the mids pulled off a bit (scooped) makes this meaty as fk. Play around with it (the Joyo too) & you'll find you can get any distorted sound you need. Be aware that this pedal (and the Joyo) do NOT do clean.

You won't regret buying the Joyo. Only downer on the Joyo (for me) is if it has white control knobs when it arrives. Luckily, mine came with black. if that's the only neg I can find on it, you're onto a winner. Enjoy...

[Bobby Marshall]

Tonefreak Severe is great modern overdrive with tight bottom. Two toggles. Check out the youtube demo by samhillband.

If it can make my Sunburst sound heavy and modern good chance it will work for him too.

[dogsrock]

Another thing that might help is if they have a effects loop on amp, put a eq in there. It will make many pedals up front sound better.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

The Tonefreak Severe is like the Metal Muff with the GAIN knob on zero (The MM gain I mean of course). For EXTREME you gotta go with the Joyo for the $$$ or the MM if you're flush...

[Stike]

Never actually played one but I've heard good things about the Suhr Riot.

[veatch]

^^

Any demo that includes a lick from Unka George is OK in my book.

[Submariner85]

My personal recommendation for the Joyo/MM is:

Level = 12 o' clock (or more)

Bass = 2 to 3 o clock

Middle (scooped) = 9 to 10 o clock

Treble = 1 to 2 o clock

Gain = 2 to 3 o clock...

Top Boost (if you use it) doesn't have to go above 11 o clock IMO.

Got it today and have been messing around with it. Started on your settings, then tweaked it. Really cool and inexpensive. Thanks for the heads up on that.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Great stuff! Glad you like it

If I hadn't bought my MXR Fullbore I'd still have mine (may get another for backup just in case)...

[zorrow]

To Vic Croll:

Dude, you are 100% right. The pedal has arrived and it sounds AMAZING, no BS. That one is THE pedal, period. Metal awesomeness!

I thank you in my own name, but also in the name of the guy in Cuba who's going to use it.

Your advice has REALLY helped me/us.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Cheers dude!

Because of this topic, I went & snagged me a Metal Muff for £40 on ebay (that is a good price over here). Regretted selling mine last year so I had to get one. The Joyo is no different IMO

Thanks, Vic...